The first lady of English — and world — cricket remembers the moment she realised she had the ability to stand out in what was then very much a man’s world. ‘It was at Chelmsford when I was 11 playing in a schools festival,’ says England captain Charlotte Edwards.

‘I turned up as a girl among all the boys and I was whacking balls into the river. I thought: “I’m quite good at this”. Then I got picked for the county boys’ team at 12 and I realised it was something I could do.’

She has been doing it ever since and now, at 34, Edwards is not only at the top of her game, but she has also become one of the most influential figures in British sport. Her story is inspirational.

Batwoman: England cricket captain Charlotte Edwards has had a remarkable journey in her cricketing career

Purple power: Edwards has been very successful since taking the captaincy reins in 2006

From those early days, when Edwards would encounter considerable sexism captaining boys’ teams, to becoming the youngest cricketer, at 16, to play for the England women’s team and now as a full-time professional and one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the year — the second woman to gain that honour — she has been on a remarkable journey.

Edwards will step out at Lord’s on Monday to captain MCC against the Rest of the World knowing that cricket is just as viable a sporting option for girls as netball and hockey now — and that she is one of the main reasons for that.

It was all very different when she started. Cricket was in her family, but there were no girls’ teams locally in Cambridgeshire for her to join. Instead, she had no qualms about proving herself as something of an outsider.

‘It was so unusual to see a girl in a boys’ team then,’ says Edwards. ‘I captained them and I can honestly say that all the boys I played with were great, but not so much those I played against or, quite often, their parents. They would question a girl playing against them.

She'll go far: A 12-year-old Edwards shows her cricketing potential

‘But I think those early experiences have enabled me to go on and do what I do now because I don’t really care what anyone else thinks. I get on with it.

‘Along the way we’ve come up against criticism from people who don’t rate what they see, but it doesn’t really bother me. We hear far more positive comments now.

‘When I was 10, I thought I could play for the England men’s team because I was playing with boys then and just thought that would carry on. Then you realise you can’t do that, so I just wanted to play for the England women’s team. There are lots of ways to do that now and the game is moving forward very fast. The next step is to get girls and women’s sections in more clubs, and it’s improving all the time.’

Edwards oozes positivity. She is very personable, down to earth and fun. A perfect role model for women in cricket.

She was speaking at Little Chalfont School, in Buckinghamshire, where she is carrying on her work as a Chance to Shine coaching ambassador, even though she does not really have to now that the England Cricket Board have taken the massive step of introducing central contracts for women.

The England captain has a real empathy with the children, both girls and boys, as she takes an assembly and gets them singing and clapping along to an Ellie Goulding song while a video of the women’s Ashes is played.

Scourge of the Aussies: Edwards has won the Ashes five times

They are then split into two sides for an impromptu game and everyone wants to be in Edwards’s team.

‘I’ve been able to go into this school this morning and say to the girls: “There’s a career in this”, which is such an important thing for me to say,’ says Edwards.

‘It’s not just a hobby now. If I’d been sitting there 20 years ago and someone had said that to me, it would have been brilliant. The journey I’ve been on has been really special and now to go and deliver that message to young girls is priceless.’

Central contracts, which begin next week, will see the leading English women players earning in excess of £50,000 a year while being able to work fully on their game and silence the doubters who still look down on women’s cricket.

‘It’s huge,’ says Edwards. ‘I never thought I would see it in my time and when I got the phone call a couple of months ago I was as shocked as anyone. I’m delighted.

‘The fact that I’ve played the last three or four years of my career pretty much as a professional has made such a difference to me and now others will have those opportunities. I’ve still had to work three or four days a week with Chance to Shine, but I’ve had the flexibility to work on my cricket around that.

Helping hand: Edwards passes on some tips to children at a coaching session

‘The only way for us to have done this before now was to have a sympathetic employer. It’s no coincidence that I’ve been my most successful over the last few years.’

Edwards, a five-time Ashes winner and England captain since 2006, is still getting used to the recognition. She admits she can still find it a bit awkward being recognised wherever she goes.

That is about to be considerably enhanced as her picture, along with that of fast bowler Katherine Brunt, is about to be displayed in Waitrose stores all over the country, together with those of Alastair Cook, Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, to advertise the supermarket’s sponsorship of England teams.

‘People know who I am so much more now, even when I’m in my normal clothes,’ says Edwards. ‘I was sitting in my car the other day and a guy came up to me and said: “You’re that cricketer, aren’t you?” I was like: “Yep”. I guess it’s nice, but I must admit I’m not always comfortable with it. It’s certainly different.’

It is very different from her own school days when she would insist to her teachers that, thank you, but she would rather not play netball. Cricket was the game for her and now it is the game for many more like her.

This week, Chance to Shine will hold a reception at the House of Lords to celebrate a million girls getting an opportunity to play the game through their programme. ‘It’s funny, I only went past Guildford Cricket Club on Sunday morning and that’s where I made my England debut,’ says Edwards.

‘It brought back so many memories. I was out there in a skirt, my dad had to pay for a blazer, and we had a real mish-mash of kit, which looked dreadful.

Sliver service: Edwards celebrates winning the World Twenty 20 with England in 2009

‘But, you know what, it meant everything to me to play for England and wear the cap. I sat with the young girls the other day and they were moaning that the rooms in their hotel were a bit warm. I said:

“Are you paying for those rooms?” and they said: “No”. So I said: “Well, you should keep quiet about it then!” It’s good for me to be around them just to remind them.

‘I’m a little bit envious I didn’t come along in this era, but I’m probably tougher for what I’ve been through. I’ve had to work for everything I’ve got and nothing has been put on a plate for me. I’ve had to do it the hard way, but it’s probably been more enjoyable for that.

Sheer joy: Edwards and Sarah Taylor celebrate retaining the Ashes in January of this year

'I’ve loved every minute of my career and I’m enjoying playing with the new generation. They have given me new energy and to watch them develop gives me as much pleasure as scoring runs.’

She admits that, while, as she puts it ‘the last couple of years have blown me away’, there have been times along the way when the going has been tough. ‘No one sees the training we’ve done and the juggling of work and playing commitments,’ she says.

‘When I was 16, I would work all day then drive to Northampton for training, then back home and be up to work again in the morning. It’s good to remind the youngsters in the team of that now. They’ve got all the kit, they’re paid and they’re very lucky, but the way I’ve done it has kept me pretty grounded.

‘There have been times when I’ve doubted myself and I even considered retiring 12 months ago. We’d come back from the World Cup and hadn’t performed well enough and I thought: “Is this going downhill?” But I talked to Graham Gooch, who told me I should play on until there was someone better out there. Then we won the Ashes — and I can’t believe I’m sitting here now as a professional.’

A professional and a significant figure for girls in sport. ‘It’s something I take seriously because when I was growing up I didn’t have a role model,’ she says.

‘There was Steffi Graf but nobody in cricket and no English role models. That’s why I do everything I can to promote cricket for girls and spread the word.’

She wants to play for another three years, then stay in the game that has become her life. It cannot be long before Edwards, already an MBE, becomes Dame Charlotte.

‘That kind of stuff doesn’t bother me, it’s about the team,’ she says. ‘I’ve been fortunate to get some accolades, but I’m not sure that Dame Charlotte sounds quite right!’

For everyone in English cricket, however, it surely has the perfect ring to it.

THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENGLISH STARS...

Charlotte Edwards chooses five English women cricketers to watch

Sarah Taylor

Been in the team since she was 17 and without doubt the best keeperbatsmanin the world. She has done some unbelievable things and is easily the most naturally talentedcricketer I’ve ever played with.

Anya Shrubsole

Still young but she’s been around for a few years. Outstanding in the World Twenty20 and there’s plenty more to come from her, especially in the new professional era.

Georgia Hennessey

An outstanding young all-rounder at 17. Big hitter and excellent bowler for Warwickshire and is in our academy set-up at the moment. Having watched her last weekend I’m sure she’s got a bright future.

Nat Sciver

The very model of the new female cricketer. She’s athletic, bats and bowls, and to watch her progress over the last year in some high pressure situations has been phenomenal.

Kate CrossShe’s had a great year since coming into the team and has put in some outstanding performances.To have her as a back-up seamer has been invaluable. Another player with everything in front of her